Institute for Student Achievement

The Institute for Student Achievement (ISA) is a "high school turnaround partner" for public school districts attempting to improve high school education, particularly for at-risk students. ISA, which became part of Educational Testing Service (ETS) in 2013, offers both a comprehensive model and, for those schools and districts whose needs are less profound, ISA offers targeted services. Founded in 1990 by philanthropists Gerard and Lilo Leeds, at present ISA partners with 80 schools serving over 40,000 students in New York City, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas and Georgia school districts.

Since 2000, the organization has been headed by Gerry House, formerly school superintendent of the Memphis, Tennessee school system. Institute for Student Achievement website, accessed October 6, 2010.</ref> House helped redesign ISA with a focus on 'whole school' reform that would greatly increase the number of high school graduates prepared for college-level academic work.

In 2015, ISA was approved by the US Dept of Education as a whole-school reform model developer, having submitted at least one study which met the What Works Clearinghouse standards.

ISA's model for school improvement is framed by what its website describes as seven "research-based principles" leading to greater student achievement and improved high school graduation and "college-going" rates. The principles are as follows: a“college preparatory instructional program”; “distributed counseling” (a trademarked term referring to building a “safety net” of personalized student support services in which all adults at the school are involved); a “dedicated team of teachers & counselors”; continuous professional development provided to teachers and principals; an extension of the school day and year; parent involvement; and “continuous organizational improvement” (management for quality and accountability through continuous monitoring and teacher/principal team discussion on whether the seven principles are being achieved).

One high school affiliated with ISA is Bronx Laboratory High School in New York City, which has been the focus of some media attention.

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